It is often said that practice makes perfect. I do not believe this to be true. However, I do believe that practice allows for a personal connection between the practice and the one practicing. To be able to do something consistently every day for the sole purpose of improving one’s skill in that thing can be a liberating experience, especially when that practice pays off. In order to reach this point of freedom through practice, consistency is key. Every day, when I arrive home from the day’s activities, the first thing that I see upon entering my room is my guitar–a Fender Bullet Stratocaster with a HSS pickup configuration. When my father first bought it for me about four years ago, it cost us about $150 (which is very cheap for an electric guitar). Since buying it, I have replaced the strings with those of a higher gauge and quality, improving the sound output of the instrument. Despite the relative quality of this guitar, it feels more like home than any other instrument that I have ever played. Through years of practice and dedicated passion, I have honed my skills and playing style to fit the music that I want to create. The guitar (which I often call “The Squier”) is placed right beside the desk that I typically work at. It is out in the open on a stand so that it can be easily accessible, leading me to pick it up every day. I stand up to allow the Squier to hang below my waist from a long strap that goes over my shoulder. The practice begins with a tuning session–starting with my trained ears before moving to a tuning machine for extra precision. On the occasion that I practice with an amplifier, you would be able to hear me if you were present. I would warm up with a few power chords–likely the beginning chords of a Green Day song or “Spiderwebs” by No Doubt. After I finish that, I would let the guitar take me where it wants to go in terms of music that I already know. The guitar listens to me. It feels me. It knows me better than any person could. I do not choose to play a song that I like. The guitar knows what I like and, in combination with how I feel, simply makes sounds that please me. If I am sorrowful, the guitar arpeggiates and slowly strums, while anger prompts the powerful punk riffs that resonate through my body, being expressed through a dance. Occasionally, I’ll sing. You may hear the sounds that I make and wince, should you dislike the kind of music that my guitar enjoys. The Edge always used to say that every instrument has songs locked within it, and it is up to the artist to find these songs. While I have yet to find all of the songs locked away in the Squier,the practice allows me to explore it. I may not know how to find the songs yet, but practice will act as the map. The more that I practice, the clearer the map is and the closer I get to finding self-expression. word count: 531
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This week will be the first Cross Country meet with Ripon High that I will be in attendance of. Thus, I will get my first chance this school year to wear the Ripon Cross Country jersey, showing that I am a part of the team and that I am willing to represent that team at all times when wearing this jersey. As Coach Mcpherson made clear to us when we received the jerseys, we wear our school’s name across our chests and down our backs. So, if we do anything stupid, people will know where we are from. I’ve always found the idea of a jersey interesting since I first received one in recreational soccer when I was in third grade. I decided to join a soccer team because everyone at my school knew how to play soccer. Soccer was the “cool thing” that all of the elementary school boys wanted to be a part of–that I wanted to be a part of. Receiving that red jersey gave me a feeling of belonging–a feeling that, because I dressed like my team, I was a part of that team. The feeling didn’t last. I was one of the less-skilled members of the team, leading me to feel isolated from the team members who were serious about the sport. Nonetheless, I continued to play soccer, training with my dad during my free time and going to practice on the designated days. After all, I had already received the uniform. There was no turning back… Eventually, I stopped playing soccer in the rec league. I took a hiatus from the sport until eighth grade, when a girl that I liked at the time encouraged me to get back into the sport. So, I joined soccer once more. I got another jersey. This one was blue and silver–the colors I had been wearing every Friday for the past seven years. This jersey gave me a similar feeling of belonging (this one feeling more permanent). The most important jersey that I feel that I have ever worn was the Cross Country jersey for Ripon High School. The significance of this jersey (and the sport, for that matter) was not in the unity brought by the clothing, but by the comradery between the people. Even without the jersey, I felt like the Cross Country team was a place where I could belong, where people would accept me regardless of how fast or fit I was. The jersey became less of something that made me feel included and more of something that encouraged me to include others and find my people. Word Count: 330 |
James WilkinsI enjoy writing creative stories, but I find it refreshing to express my thoughts through blogs or journals. Archives
April 2024
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